On The Continent - A European Football Podcast

Xabi Alonso got his debut El Clásico win, and his Real Madrid side did it in some fashion! Jude Bellingham capped off a fantastic week as he scored the goal that kept Los Blancos top of La Liga. David Cartlidge joins Andy to dissect the game. Has Alonso finally unlocked Bellingham's brilliance? Is Barcelona's Pau Cubarsí/Eric García experiment over? And who's the new favourite to win La Liga? Join...

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge answer more of your burning European football questions, as we try to find out why Ajax and Real Sociedad are in their respective messes - and how they can dig themselves out. Plus: can Schalke finally secure promotion? What’s the number 10’s place in European football after tough domestic starts for Florian Wirtz and Xavi Simons? And which European clubs would we l...

As PSG keep going full Jay-Z on the Champions League, how are the competition's big boys changing their approach to master the league phase? Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge unpack a record-breaking matchday. David is also left baffled by Antonio Conte's latest comments around their 6-2 thrashing in Eindhoven as his disastrous Champions League record continues. Andy explains why they have a Kevin D...

Bayern Munich are setting the tone as one of the most intense teams in Europe right now. And in the first half of Saturday's Der Klassiker, Borussia Dortmund certainly got a taste of that... Andy is joined by Archie Rhind-Tutt to mull over a relentess display from Bayern as Dortmund's unbeaten run finally comes to an end! They discuss just how important Luis Díaz has become for setting the tone of...

After a flawless World Cup qualifying campaign - winning every match and conceding no goals - Spain are looking more formidable than ever. La Roja have already lifted silverware under Luis de la Fuente, so as the World Cup draws nearer, are Spain once again the team to beat? Lars Sivertsen joins Dotun and Andy to unpack that. Plus, what went wrong for Adi Hütter at Monaco? Could football actually...

Wow, wow, wow. Despite having one of the best striker partnerships in world football, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres' Sweden fell to defeat against Kosovo for the second time this year. Where did it go wrong for Jon Dahl Tomasson, and might Graham Potter be the man to rescue their qualification campaign? Lars Sivertsen joins Dotun and Andy to discuss the fallout. Before that though, Kylian Mba...

As the son of a Turkish international, Tan Kesler was always going to have a deep affinity with the beautiful game. However, from an early age, Tan realised he didn’t want to follow in his father's footsteps but instead forge his own journey in sport. Today, the Pogoń Szczecin vice-president and CEO sits down with Andy to discuss his career so far, how the Polish Ekstraklasa currently compares to...

Jobe Bellingham followed his brother's path to Borussia Dortmund - seemingly the next step in the Bellingham ascent to greatness. But with limited minutes under Niko Kovač and growing off-field tensions, was the move to Dortmund a misstep? Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney discuss that - plus: will PSG rue letting Ethan Mbappé leave after his impressive start at Lille? How will the revamped internati...

In a landmark ruling, UEFA have given the green light to domestic European games being played abroad. So who better to pick the bones out of what that means for the future of football on the continent, than Miguel Delaney. He's joined by Dotun and Andy to discuss the permutations and potential precedent the decision sets for the future of the game. Before that though, Bayern's perfect record conti...

Over 20 years after his first European success, José Mourinho returned to Porto this weekend - but as manager of his boyhood club, Benfica. And you'll be shocked to hear that it was a park the bus masterclass! Andy is joined by Portuguese journalist and author Miguel Pereira to assess the fallout from last night's 0-0 draw at the Dragão and how two of Portugal's giants are positioned for the rest...

One of football’s most iconic stadiums, the San Siro, is set for demolition after the latest decision from Milan’s city council. It’s sure to divide opinion, but is this a necessary move? Or is this modern football once again striking at the heart of supporters? Dotun, Andy and Jonathan Johnson dig into that - plus, what can be taken from Antonio Conte’s clash with Kevin De Bruyne? How have Boruss...

A weakened PSG saw off Barcelona on Wednesday night. Is this the start of another season of European dominance for Les Parisiens? And are they finally getting the best out of the local talent on their doorstep? Dotun, Andy and Jonathan Johnson consider that before wondering how Galatasaray recovered from a 5-1 thrashing against Eintracht Frankfurt to defeat Liverpool. Also, JJ explains how Lyon ar...

It had been a less than ideal start to the season for Atlético Madrid: two wins in six in the league and a gut-wrenching defeat at Anfield. But Saturday's 5-2 win over their city rivals feels like an awakening... Andy and David discuss a dramatic day at the Metropolitano and a stunning week for Julián Alvarez, which is rapidly becoming Diego Simeone's new leader on the pitch. But what about Real M...

A clause in Harry Kane's contract at Bayern Munich has reignited debate over his long-term future, with Thomas Frank declaring that the England captain would be "more than welcome" back at Tottenham Hotspur. But should Kane even be considering a move? Let alone back to his former club? Andy, Dotun and Miguel discuss that, plus, should ambitious projects like Como and Paris FC be wary of repeating...

Ousmane Dembélé and PSG had their crowning moment at Monday’s Ballon d’Or. So, how did Marseille spoil the party? Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy to discuss that and assess what the Ballon d’Or really means in football today. Elsewhere, Andy and Miguel explain why Vinícius Júnior’s future at Real Madrid is in doubt. Plus, we wonder how the new Europa League format might damage the competition....

There’s a crucial question for Andy and David Cartlidge to consider after Sunday's De Topper: who emerged happier from the bizarre 2-2 slugfest between Ajax and PSV Eindhoven? Probably Feyenoord, to be honest. Andy and David check in on the latest in the Eredivisie after this draw left both sides chasing Feyenoord at the top of the league. Ajax continue to battle with the external pressure to play...

With an extra night of Champions League football to pick through, Andy and Lars Sivertsen check in for a bonus episode of your definitive guide to the week in European football! After a Marcus Rashford-inspired Barcelona reminded everyone that they deserve to be considered a Champions League contender, we wonder how he can establish himself as a Catalan hero and praise what a great job Hansi Flick...

European football is back and didn't it return with some pizazz! So what did we make of the favourites for the competition, and who surprised us in the opening round of games? Dotun, Andy & Lars Sivertsen look back on a dramatic week of UCL action. Plus, José Mourinho is set to return to Benfica, but why? And what political ramifications might it have inside the Portuguese giants? And finally,...

Andy and Lars Sivertsen dial in for another Monday special after one of the maddest games you’ll see this season, with Juventus’ last-gasp winner giving them a 4-3 win over rivals Inter on Saturday night. We praise Igor Tudor’s political manoeuvring as he tries to Makes Juventus Fun Again™ and also celebrate some awesome performances from Juventus’ blend of old and new. Plus, we finally get a nice...

Domenico Tedesco has taken the helm at Fenerbahçe after José Mourinho's disastrous tenure, but does he have what it takes to turn the ship around? Dotun, Andy and Nicky debate that. Plus, who surprised us during the international break? What will Steve Cooper do at Danish giants Brøndby IF? And after breaking the all-time Dutch scoring record, can we all agree that Memphis Depay is a legend? Pleas...

Sometimes may be good, sometimes may be sh*t. Today, Nicky Bandini explains to Dotun and Andy why Gennaro Gattuso’s famous quote is very applicable to his Italy team. Could they miss out on another World Cup? Elsewhere, PSG have fallen out with the French national team – Andy explains why Ousmane Dembélé is at the heart of it. Plus, we explore the growing impact of Saudi Pro League players on inte...

Wouldn't you know it! José Mourinho is once again out of a job after Fenerbahçe's Champions League exit. So what went wrong? Or rather what, if anything, went right for the Special One in Türkiye? Dotun, Andy and Lars discuss. Plus, how has Ligue 1 reformed itself into becoming a much more exciting competition? Why is Napoli such a hotspot for out-of-favour Premier League players? And how did a Du...

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag lasted just two Bundesliga games in charge of Bayer Leverkusen. So where did it all go wrong for the man who once took that generational Ajax team to the Champions League semi-finals? Dotun, Andy & Lars Sivertsen are here to explain all. Plus, infighting among the Barcelona squad is making Hansi Flick feel unease, so are they really prepared to go...

It's always a feisty affair when Olympique Lyonnais lock horns with Olympique de Marseille. A red card and late drama made this Choc des Olympiques one not to miss. But with OL getting the better of OM, what does it mean for their respective seasons? Andy is joined by Jonathan Johnson to react to all the drama at the Groupama Stadium on Sunday night. Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll h...

Another day, another goalkeeper that Manchester United want to sign. After David De Gea, it was André Onana, then Altay Bayındır but not for long it seems. Senne Lammens could be on his way to Old Trafford - will he destroy the poison chalice or fall victim to the curse of his predecessors? Dotun, Andy and JJ discuss that - plus - how have both major Scottish teams failed so miserably in Europe be...